Board Game Apparatus and method

ABSTRACT

A game having a board and playing positions occupied by playing pieces of individual players. Upon accomplishing a designated criteria for covering different playing positions a player may win the game by crowning another player.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a board game. More particularly, itrelates to a board game in which players compete toward the goal ofwinning and choosing a coronation of themself or another by movingplaying pieces of simulated jewels such as would be upon a crown.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Board games have been played by children and adults alike in mostcultures and societies throughout the world. Some games are played toemulate a real game such as football or soccer. Some board games, suchas chess, provide practice in strategy and calculating outcomes and havebeen classics for centuries. Some games are played to educate the useror to allow users to match their intellectual prowess in a particulararea of expertise. Most board games however are played simply forcompetition and amusement of the players enjoying them.

Conventionally, a board game is a game played with counters or playingpieces that are placed on, removed from, or moved across a playing“board” on which the players compete. Most such boards consist of aplaying surface bearing indicia that is pre-marked in a manner that isusually specific to that game. Simple board games which require nospecific education or knowledge, and thereby render all the playersequal to the task, make for ideal family entertainment since they aregenerally playable by all ages and allow adults and children to competein a manner that would otherwise be unavailable since adults inherentlyhave the advantage over a child in games of knowledge or skill.

However, many board games become outmoded or boring to players orpotential players over time due to familiarity with the game itself.Humans inherently crave new experiences and competition and consequentlythere is a continuing need for new and interesting board games, in whichplayers may compete. Such games should provide a playing board andplaying pieces and rules which both children and adults may understandand play, thereby allowing family-type competition and comradery whichis not provided by a television show or other modern conventionalevening or weekend entertainment. Further, such a method and apparatusfor a game should be simple enough for children to play without adultintervention or explanation, yet provide a basis of play that stimulatethe imagination of the children playing it.

The device and method of play herein described and disclosed is for agame where the ultimate goal is the coronation of a player by thewinner, which thereby provides a noble goal for the games participants.The game may be played by two to four players who compete using a gameboard and a plurality of playing pieces to mark their individualpositions.

Preferably, to maintain the regal theme, the playing pieces have anappearance of gemstones. Upon one player reaching victory, the sametheme is continued wherein a coronation with a jeweled crown of oneplayer is provided with that player being designated by the game winner.

Also provided are a plurality of playing cards which when drawn, causethe player to take a directed action. Additionally provided and employedfor game play is a set of two dice for the individual participants toconsecutively roll to determine the number of spaces of movement foreach consecutive turn about the board by the rolling player.

Ultimately, to win the game, a player must control the crown which is aportion of the game board located at the center of the game board.Control of the crown portion is accomplished by engineering the movingof, and ultimate placement of, six of a player's playing pieces, onpositions in the crown portion. Once a player has accomplished thistask, that player may perform a coronation to end the game. Thecoronation may be of themself or one of the other players, should thewinner so choose.

The game features a number of elements intended to maintain thecoronation or royal theme of the game. These regal elements are alsointended to stimulate the imagination of the players, especiallychildren. First, heraldic symbols are employed on the game board whichare a generally well-known and historical icon of ancient heraldry androyal courts. As shown, the plurality of symbols may include theEstoile, Cinquefoil, Quatrefoil, Fleur-de-lis, Lion, Bee, Anchor, andmay also include other symbols found in ancient heraldry.

An additional fanciful inducement for game play is provided by theplaying pieces employed by each player. These playing pieces are formedto appear as mounted precious stones. The stones may include diamond,pearl, ruby, emerald, sapphire, onyx, and other gems which areconventionally known precious stones. Currently, the stones are mountedatop a pedestal for ease of handling. However, other modes of mountingmay be employed.

The playing board is provided to allow players to track their relativepositions toward an ultimate win and coronation. The board featuresindicia to designate six individual board sections surrounding agenerally round center coronation section of the game board. The gameboard is formed of cardboard, plastic laminate, or other materialsuitable for the task which will allow for collapse for storage.

On the top surface of the game board, indicia is located to designateseventy-two individual playing positions. The seventy-two playingpositions are designated by the positioning of six different heraldicsymbols, each occupying one of the six radially oriented sectionssurrounding the center coronation section. Each respective radiallyoriented game board section has two different sets of the same heraldicsymbol therein.

A first of these sets, consisting of thirty-six placing positions withfive in each respective radially oriented board sections, are designatedwith markings as being crown positions. One of each of the six differentheraldic symbols employed in the six radially oriented board sections isalso positioned at center section of the game board, such that thecenter section designating the crown will have six different heraldicsymbols therein.

Also provided are twenty four playing positions with each havingmarkings designating them as challenge positions. There are four of eachsymbol occupying these designated challenge positions. Each of thesechallenge positions are employed on the game board to direct playerslanding upon them during a turn, to collect a challenge card from theplaying cards provided with the kit, and thereby replenish players'hands as the cards are used in challenges.

The last set of twelve playing positions are positioned on the gameboard using indicia designating them to be employed as a “keeps”position. These “keeps” positions are storage spots where a player canstore a game piece to be used during a subsequent turn.

Turns and movement about the board by players are accomplished bysequential rolls of a pair of dice. Conventional dice are employed todetermine the number of pieces added to the game board or moved on thegame board during a player's turn.

For use in a challenge process, the dice will be designated withmarkings such as coloring each die differently, to make one a challengedie, and the other die a defense die.

As noted, there will be provided, in the kit, a stack of playing cardsknown as Challenge Cards. The back side of the challenge cards, viewableby opposing players, are indistinguishable from each other. The faces ofeach respective challenge card have numerals designating point values ofthe card from 1 to 12 printed upon them, with only one such numeral oneach such card. Alternatively, other devices might be employed todesignate the point values allotted to any challenge card from 1 to 12points. These point values are used in the challenge process. Some ofthe playing cards will be designated with markings as “coronationinvalid” cards. These will come into play during coronations.

Finally, the kit provides players a small playing piece which emulates acoronet, which historically is a small crown consisting of ornamentsfixed on a metal ring. This coronet is dimensioned to easily fit into alanding space on the center section of the game board designating thecrown. Each coronet will have a stone engaged to it which matches arespective stone in a respective set of playing pieces employed by arespective one of the players. During game play, each player will employtheir coronet corresponding to the stones they have selected for play.

All of the parts of the game, thus try to enhance the royal theme of acoronation, such as employing precious stones in the coronet and playingpieces, and the use of indicia of royal or heraldic symbols.

In use, the following example of game play between three players, thereis shown a typical game of Coronation.

Prior to any movement by players of their playing pieces at start of thegame, the crown portion of the board will be vacant of any playingpieces. The heraldic symbols used for this example are fleur-de-lis,rampant lion, anchor, cross, cinquefoil, and bee. Of course, the gameboard might employ other heraldic symbols and such are anticipated.

In a first step, the players will choose an order of player turns ofplay. This currently is accomplished by a roll of the dice, with thehighest number rolled determining which player takes the first turn.Players rolling lower numbers will take their turns in order of thenumber they rolled.

At the start of this particular game the crown is vacant. The heraldicsymbols used for this example are fleur-de-lis, rampant lion, anchor,cross, cinquefoil, and bee.

Also at the start of this particular game, option number 2 has beenselected to handle invalid coronation attempts, so players will retaincontrol of the crown afterwards.

As the first player, Barry rolls a 6 and a 3. He applies five pieces tothe fleur-de-lis crown positions and the sixth piece to the fleur-de-lisposition on the crown, since that position is open. He applies the otherthree pieces to keeps, to be used at a later time.

Julie rolls a 5 and a 1. She applies five pieces to the lion crownpositions and the sixth piece to the lion position on the crown.

Sam rolls a 6 and a 6. She takes the anchor crown positions and thatposition on the crown, and also the bee positions, including the one onthe crown.

Barry rolls a 1 and a 2. He applies three pieces to the cross crownpositions, and the three pieces from the keeps positions from his priorturn, to the remaining cross positions to take the cross position on thecrown.

Julie rolls a 5 and a 3. She takes the remaining cinquefoil position onthe crown with her remaining six pieces and moves 2 pieces to keepspositions to store them for later use.

The crown is now full with pieces of all three players. Barry has twopieces on the crown and ten pieces left to play with. Julie has twopieces on the crown and ten pieces left to play with. Sam has two pieceson the crown and ten pieces left to play with.

At this time players begin collecting challenge cards with one cardawarded for each landing on a challenge position. Sam then rolls a 3 anda 1. She moves four pieces to the lion challenge positions and collectsthree cards. Barry rolls snake eyes. He moves two pieces to keeps. Juliethen rolls a 3 and a 3. She moves four pieces to the fleur-de-lischallenge positions and takes four challenge cards. She moves two piecesto keeps. Play continues like this for awhile with each player buildingup their hands of challenge cards.

Later, Julie rolls a 6 and a 2 and applies six pieces to six vacantcrown positions and is eligible to take one position on the crown, orchallenge for two. Since none are open, she must challenge. She wants tochallenge Barry for his two crown positions since he has the fewestchallenge cards to defend himself against her collection. In achallenge, the player may bid with their challenge cards or by a roll ofthe dice. Julie begins by advancing a bid of 1 point. Barry calls. Julieadvances 1 more point. Barry calls. At this time Julie would rather takea chance with a dice roll to see how her luck is rather than use all hercards up. The dice are rolled and she loses the challenge as Barry rollsa higher number. The four cards they both played are discarded and playcontinues.

Play continues with players collecting more challenge cards. Later on,Sam rolls a 3 and a 4. She already has five pieces on crown positionshaving five different symbols but a sixth position that would take aposition on the crown is occupied by Julie. Sam must challenge Julie forthis position.

Sam begins the challenge by advancing 1 point but Julie's lowest pointvalue on a card is 6 and she wants to save these higher valued cards formore important challenges, so she gives up the position and Sam movesone piece to it. Sam, having completed one of the three criteria forattempting a coronation, is now eligible to take any one position on thecrown or challenge for five. She can move six more pieces, so sheapplies four pieces to keeps and hopes to put the other two pieces onthe crown by winning a challenge. She can make this challenge in thisturn. She goes for Barry's positions on the crown, and advances 12points to start.

Barry calls and raises 4 points. Sam calls and raises 6 points. Barrycalls and raises 12 points. Sam has put up 35 points, and Barry callsand he is at 35 also. He advances 6 more points. Sam must either call orlose the challenge, but her lowest card value is 8 and her hand of cardsis getting thin. Barry is looking strong and bold. Sam gets cold feetand doesn't advance any more points. She loses the challenge and the twopieces she had reserved for this cannot now be moved.

Not long after this, Julie challenges Sam for her two positions on thecrown, and since Sam has a weakened challenge hand, Julie is able toacquire Sam's two positions on the crown by out bidding Sam for them.Julie now has four positions total. Her challenge hand is stillrelatively strong after this. Play continues.

Later on, Julie challenges for Barry's two positions on the crown. Barrychooses not to weaken his hand too much and gives the positions up aftera short bidding war. Julie now has control of all positions on thecrown. She may win the game by crowning another player. She chooses tocrown Sam. But Sam is holding a card invalidating this coronation. Thiscard is discarded and play continues.

Sam rolls next and collects some challenge cards. Barry then rolls a 1and a 6. He moves one piece to a position that makes him eligible totake a position on the crown. He challenges Julie for all six of herpositions, and in the bidding war she uses all but one card, and won'tuse that last one to match Barry's bid. Consequently, her six crownpieces are removed from the board and Barry takes control of the crownat this time. He chooses to crown Sam, assuming that Julie's last cardis a coronation invalidator, but Sam was holding yet another invalidatorcard, so play continues.

Julie rolls low numbers and moves some pieces back onto the board. Samrolls and is able to challenge Barry for one position on the crown.Since Barry's hand is weak now, Julie is able to out bid him and to takeone position on the crown from him, and he no longer has control of thecrown.

Barry gets this position back in a few more turns and attempts to crownJulie, but she had collected three more cards in the meantime, and oneof them is an invalidator. Play continues until Sam eventually takescontrol of the crown and crowns Julie to win the game.

The game thus teaches the players strategy by allowing for differentcriteria to attempt to take over the crown and win the game by crowninganother player. It also teaches the use of the element of surprisethrough the employment of challenge cards and invalidator cards whichcan negate those attempts. Further, it allows the players to adjust thegame length by letting them add or subtract from the distributedinvalidator cards so they can adjust its time frame to the duration oftime available, such as an airline ride.

In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the boardgame device and method of play herein in detail, it is to be understoodthat the invention is not limited in its application to the details ofconstruction, and to the arrangement of the components or method stepsset forth in the description herein. The invention is thus capable ofother embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various waysand in different orders of execution. Also, it is to be understood thatthe phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose ofdescription and should not be regarded as limiting.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conceptionupon which the board game herein is based, may readily be utilized as abasis for the designing of other games and methods of play for carryingout the purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore,that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructioninsofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the presentinvention.

It is an object of this invention to provide a game which has a royaltheme which children and adults will find enjoyable.

A further object of this invention is the provision of such a game whichexpounds on that theme by providing a coronation as the ultimate goal ofthe players to win the game.

Yet another object of this invention is the provision of such acoronation type game which provides both forward and rearward movingoccurrences in the quest of obtaining a coronation and winning.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent, reside in the details of the construction andmethod as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, wherein likenumerals refer to like parts throughout.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized thatthe optimum relationships for the method and game components herein areto include variations in function and manner of operation, steps inoperation and use, which are readily apparent and obvious to one skilledin the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in thedrawings and described in the specification are intended to beencompassed by the present invention. Therefore, the foregoing isconsidered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention.Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur tothose skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention tothe exact construction and operation shown and described, andaccordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resortedto, falling within the scope of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a graphic depiction of the six section game board surroundingthe central crown section.

FIG. 2 depicts typical player pieces with faux precious stones atop apedestal.

FIG. 3 depicts a coronet.

FIG. 4 depicts challenge cards having a numeral value and heraldicsymbols thereon.

FIG. 5 depicts dice employed for moving players along in the game duringa turn.

FIG. 6 depicts position designators placed on the board of FIG. 1,wherein the player is directed to take an action.

FIG. 7 depicts some of the heraldic symbols that enhance the games play.

FIG. 8 shows the invalidator cards which are employed to defeat anattempt to end the game by another player.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawings in FIGS. 1-8, some preferred embodimentsof the present invention in current preferred modes are shown anddescribed.

In FIG. 1 there is depicted the six section game board 12 radiallysurrounding the central or crown section 14. On the surface of the gameboard indicia is located to designate seventy-two individual playingpositions 16. Sixty-six of these playing positions are located in sixrespective designated radially oriented sections 18 and six of theseplaying positions 15 are located in the crown section 14.

Each respective radial positioned section 18 of the game board 12 thushas two different sets of positions bearing the same heraldic symboltherein. A total of 11 playing positions are formed in each section 18by the sum of the challenge positions 21, crown positions 26, and keepspositions 19. Of course those skilled in the art will realize thatdifferent numbers of peripheral sections 18 could be employed to playthe game herein and such is anticipated.

Currently the board 12 has indicia thereon designating a plurality ofsix such peripherally located sections 18 is an especially preferredmode of the device as experimentation has shown that this numberprovides players a game-length which is generally not too long or tooshort.

A first set of marked playing positions, in each respective section 18,are designated with markings as being crown positions 26. There are fivecrown positions 26 designated in each respective peripherally locatedsection 18.

One of each of the six different types heraldic symbols 17 which arelocated in the six radially oriented board sections 18 is alsopositioned at the center section or crown section 14 of the game board.Thus, this crown section 14 of the board, has six different heraldicsymbols 17 therein shown in a circle arrangement.

Also employed on the game board 12 are twenty-four of the playingpositions 16 with each having markings designating them as challengepositions 21. There are four respective designated challenge positions21 located in each section 18. Landing a game piece on a challengeposition 21 directs players to collect a challenge card 24 from a deckof challenge cards 24.

Also employed are twelve of the playing positions on the board whichhave indicia designating them to be employed as a keeps position 26. Twoof each keeps positions 26 are located in each of the peripherallylocated sections 18 of the playing board 12. The keeps positions 26operate as storage spots for players to keep game pieces for subsequentmovement.

In order to decide an order of player movement around the playing board12 through movement of their respective playing pieces 28, a pair ofdice 30 is provided which may be rolled by each player at each turn.

The dice 30 also double as a means to ascertain a player challenge scoreduring any challenge process of the game should dice be the chosendetermining component rather than a bidding of challenge cards.Determining a challenge score is done by having a first die 32 with acolored surface 34, and a second die 36 having a different secondcolored surface 38. A player initiating a challenge may roll one die,and a player defending a challenge would subsequently roll the other diein defense to the challenge. The higher roll will win.

Also provided are a plurality of challenge cards 24. The back side ofthe challenge cards, viewable by opposing players, are indistinguishablefrom each other. The faces 40 of each respective challenge card 24, whenviewed by the holder, have a designator 42 upon them. This designator isa numeral point value between 1 and 12. These point values may beemployed in the challenge process also by summing them from the bidcards against the sum bid by an opposing player.

Another playing component provided is the invalidator card 25 shown forexample in FIG. 8. The invalidator card is employed by players toinvalidate the coronation of a player by another player reaching a stageof the game where they are allowed to coronate another player andthereby win the game. The number of invalidator cards 25 distributedamongst the players would be a multiple of the players participating inany given game. For instance, four players might choose to distributetwo invalidator cards 25 each and thereby distribute eight totalinvalidator cards 25 amongst the participating players. The invalidatorcards 25 provide, at the option of the players at the start, a means tocontrol game duration. The game play time can be lengthened or shortenedby distribution of more or less of the invalidator cards 25, which, whenproperly played by a player, will deal a serious setback to an opposingplayer who has reached a position to attempt to win the game and crownanother player.

Additionally provided in the game kit are playing pieces which emulate acrown or coronet 44 having ornaments fixed on a metal ring. This coronet44 would be dimensioned to easily fit into a landing space or crown onthe center section 46 of the game board 12. Each coronet 44 will have astone 48 engaged to it which matches all the respective stones 48 in onerespective set of playing pieces 28 employed by each of the players.During play of the game, each player will employ their coronet 44appearance to a corresponding appearance of the stones they haveselected for play in the playing pieces 48.

In use the following example is of game play between three playersenjoying a typical game of Coronation. In a first step in playing thegame, players will choose an order of player turns of play a roll thedice 30 with the highest number rolled determining which player takesthe first turn. Players rolling lower numbers will take their turnssequentially relative to the value of the number they rolled.

Once an order of play is determined the players will begin the game byrolling the dice 30 to obtain a value to move their respective playingpieces 28 onto open positions on the board 12. The number rolled on thedice 30 may be used to move one or a plurality of the playing pieces 28to the crown playing positions 26 in their section 18. The total numberof spaces which may be filled in the player's section 18 by the numberof playing pieces 28 moved in a turn, is equal to the number rolled onthe dice 30 by that player.

Should all of a player's crown positions 26 in a given section 18 befilled, a player may place a playing piece on the crown playing position15 in the crown section 14. When those are filled, each section 18 alsohas two keeps positions 19 where playing pieces may be stored for latermovement.

Once all the crown positions 26 on the playing board 12 correspondingthe number of players are filled by playing pieces 28, challenge cardsmay collected for landing on a challenge position 21. Challenges byplayers taking a turn, and wanting to occupy positions occupied by otherplayers on the board, may occur during a players roll of the dice 30should they wish to take over those positions.

During any turn, a player taking their turn, may issue a challenge toanother other player, for the crown positions 15 occupied by thatplayer's playing pieces 28. In a challenge, a player may choose to bidthe total numeral value of the designators 42 of one or a plurality oftheir collection of challenge cards 24, against that of the otherplayer. Alternatively, the player may roll one die 32 or 36 and have theother player roll the other die 32 or 36 wherein the high number rolledwins. Whomever wins the challenge will occupy the crown playingpositions 15 in question.

Play by the players continues with the goal of occupying all of sixcrown playing positions 15 in the crown section 14 of the board 12. Toqualify to place a piece on a position on the coronet 44 a player mustmeet one of three conditions, each of which are subject to rules ofpiece addition and movement.

In one mode of qualification, a player must place their playing pieces28 generally about the board 12 all of which have matching heraldicsymbols. At this point, that players sixth playing piece 28 may placedon the corresponding (by heraldic symbol) playing position in the crownsection 14 surrounding the crown 46, if it is open. Subject to thiscondition, if the desired playing position surrounding the crown 46 inthe center section 14 is occupied by another player, a challenge ortrade can be made for that playing position, and only that playingposition. Once the player has the sixth playing piece 28 located on acrown playing position 15 in the center section 14 matching the heraldicsymbol from his other five, he can place a playing piece 28 on the crown46 during a turn.

Alternatively, a player may apply their playing pieces 28 to five crownpositions 26 on the general board area, each of which having a differentheraldic symbol. Once this is accomplished, their playing piece 28 maybe placed on the actual coronet 44 only after they manage to position aplaying piece 28 on a playing position surrounding the crown 46 in thecenter section 14 which corresponds to the one heraldic symbol they havenot covered in placing their playing pieces 28 in the general area ofthe board 12. Once they place this last playing piece 28 which completesa set of six different heraldic symbols, they may place a playing piece28 on the crown 46. If the position needed surrounding the crown 46 isoccupied, the player may execute a challenge to obtain it to completetheir set.

In a third mode of winning the game, a player may position playingpieces 28 during their turns, upon six crown positions 26 on the generalboard area, each of which have different heraldic symbols, therebycompleting a complete set of all the symbols without the positionsurrounding the crown 46. Once the set of six different symbols iscovered by playing pieces 28, that player during their turn may place aplaying piece 28 on any one available playing position surrounding thecrown 46 so long as that position is open. If there is only one positionsurrounding the crown 46 open, they must take it. Additionally, if allare occupied and there no open playing positions surrounding the crown,that player may challenge for any playing position surrounding the crown46 in the center section 14, and which is owned by one and only oneother player. It should be understood that meeting this third criteria,allows a player to challenge for multiple playing positions surroundingthe crown 46 in the center section 14. But such a challenge may only befor crown playing positions 15 occupied by one other player perchallenge, on any given turn of the challenging player. Of course thechallenging player must have the playing pieces 28 on stored positionsand available to apply to the desired positions, as per the rules ofpiece movement. Trading is allowed in this mode of movement in place ofchallenging, however it is unlikely that any other player would tradeout a crown playing position 15 surrounding the coronet 44.

Thus, in the quest to be allowed the right to place their playing pieceon the crown 46, by using one of the three modes noted above, play andchallenges continue for the duration of the game until one playeroccupies the correct combination of positions to allow that player toposition their playing piece 28 on the crown 46. When a player occupiesthe correct combination of positions using one of the three modes, theymay then attempt to win the game by placing their coronet 44 on thecrown 46 giving them the right to coronate another player.

At this point, if the intended player who is to be coronated can counterthe coronation attempt by playing a coronation invalidator card 25, thenthe attempted coronation is terminated. If this is the case, then playcontinues until one player occupies all the correct playing positionsfrom the three options along with one in the center section 14surrounding the crown 46 per those options. Each time this occurs, thatplayer will designate another player for coronation with the coronet 44.If that designated player, or another wishing to save the game, isunable to invalidate the coronation by playing an invalidator card 25,then the designated player is crowned and the game ends.

The method and apparatus for playing a game as shown in the drawings anddescribed in detail herein, disclose steps in a process, arrangements ofelements of particular construction, and configuration for illustratingpreferred embodiments of structure and method of operation and play ofthe present invention. It is to be understood, however, that elements ofdifferent construction and configuration and different steps and processprocedures and other arrangements thereof, other than those illustratedand described, may be employed for providing the game herein within thespirit of this invention.

As such, while the present invention has been described herein withreference to particular embodiments thereof, a latitude ofmodifications, various changes and substitutions are intended in theforegoing disclosure, and it will be appreciated that in some instancesome features of the invention could be employed without a correspondinguse of other features without departing from the scope of the inventionas set forth in the following claims. All such changes, alternations andmodifications as would occur to those skilled in the art are consideredto be within the scope of this invention as broadly defined in theappended claims.

1. A game for at least two players, the game comprising: a game board,said game board having a plurality of designated peripheral sections,each said peripheral section adjoining an adjacent said section on twosides; said peripheral sections radially surrounding a central section;each said peripheral sections having a plurality of playing positionstherein, said playing positions designated by heraldic indicia; saidheraldic indicia in each individual said peripheral sectionsrespectively bearing a different heraldic symbol than that of the otherrespective peripheral sections; each said peripheral section also havingindicia therein designating a plurality of storage positions for apositioning of individual playing pieces thereon for storage; saidcentral section having indicia designating a plurality of centralplaying positions located therein and radially surrounding a coronationposition therein; said plurality of said central playing positions beingequal in number to said plurality of peripheral sections; eachindividual said central playing position in said central section bearinga different heraldic symbol than the others, and each said heraldicsymbol being the same as one respective said heraldic symbol in one ofsaid plurality of said peripheral sections; a plurality of individualsets of playing pieces, each said set having a plurality of playingpieces having the same appearance; each said set having said playingpieces having a different said appearance than those of other respectivesaid sets of playing pieces; a pair of dice, one of said pair being acolored die different in color and appearance than the other; and saidplayers following rules allowing for sequential turns of play for saidplayers requiring said players to sequentially employ said dice to rollnumbers and to place a respective set of said playing pieces, to adesignated set of said playing positions on said board according to saidnumbers rolled; said rules allowing that upon covering said designatedset, a winning player may cover at least one of said plurality of saidcentral playing positions radially surrounding said coronation positionto obtain coronation rights; and said coronation rights allowing saidwinning player a right to designate another player as the recipient of acrown.
 2. Said game for at least two players of claim 1, the gameadditionally comprising: said plurality of peripheral sections equalingsix; said playing positions designated by said heraldic indicia in eachof said peripheral sections equaling nine; four of said nine playingpositions designated by heraldic indicia having additional indiciadesignating them as challenge positions where players occupying saidchallenge position may be challenged by another player for saidchallenge position; and five of said nine playing positions designatedby heraldic indicia having additional indicia designating them as crownpositions.
 3. Said game for at least two players of claim 2, the gameadditionally comprising: said plurality of storage positions equalingtwo; and said storage positions employable by a player to store saidplaying pieces thereon for a subsequent turn.
 4. Said game for at leasttwo players of claim 2, the game wherein said designated set of saidplaying positions on said board comprises one of: a) player must placetheir respective said playing pieces to cover five said crown positionsabout the board all having matching said heraldic symbols; said playermust place a sixth said playing piece on a said central crown playingposition having a said heraldic symbol corresponding to that of saidfive crown positions; and said player must position a seventh saidplaying piece on the crown; or b) a said player must position five oftheir said playing pieces upon five said crown positions about saidboard, each of which having a respective different said heraldic symbol;said player must place a sixth said playing piece on a said centralplaying position having said a heraldic symbol which is different fromsaid respective heraldic symbols covered by said five of said playingpieces; and said player must position a seventh said playing piece onthe crown; or c) a player must said position playing pieces upon sixsaid crown positions, each having a different said heraldic symbol; saidplayer must place a sixth said playing piece on any of said centralplaying positions; and said player must position a seventh said playingpiece on the crown.
 5. Said game for at least two players of claim 3,the game wherein said designated set of said playing positions on saidboard comprises one of: a) player must place their respective saidplaying pieces to cover five said crown positions about the board allhaving matching said heraldic symbols; said player must place a sixthsaid playing piece on a said central crown playing position having asaid heraldic symbol corresponding to that of said five crown positions;and said player must position a seventh said playing piece on the crown;or b) a said player must position five of their said playing pieces uponfive said crown positions about said board, each of which having arespective different said heraldic symbol; said player must place asixth said playing piece on a said central playing position having saida heraldic symbol which is different from said respective heraldicsymbols covered by said five of said playing pieces; and said playermust position a seventh said playing piece on the crown; or c) a playermust said position playing pieces upon six said crown positions, eachhaving a different said heraldic symbol; said player must place a sixthsaid playing piece on any of said central playing positions; and saidplayer must position a seventh said playing piece on the crown; and saidplaying pieces must be moved to said playing positions only from saidstorage positions or other of said playing positions.
 6. Said game forat least two players of claim 4, additionally comprising: challengecards, said challenge cards collected by said players during turns ofplay, said challenge cards employed in bidding competitions to win asaid playing position or central playing positions from an occupyingplayer thereof.
 7. Said game for at least two players of claim 5,additionally comprising: challenge cards, said challenge cards collectedby said players during turns of play, said challenge cards employed inbidding competitions to win a said playing position or central playingpositions from an occupying player thereof.
 8. Said game for at leasttwo players of claim 4, additionally comprising: invalidator cardswhereby a said player designated as a recipient of said crown may negatesuch by a presentation of said invalidator card.
 9. Said game for atleast two players of claim 5, additionally comprising: invalidator cardswhereby a said player designated as a recipient of said crown may negatesuch by a presentation of said invalidator card.
 10. Said game for atleast two players of claim 6, additionally comprising: invalidator cardswhereby a said player designated as a recipient of said crown may negatesuch by a presentation of said invalidator card.
 11. Said game for atleast two players of claim 7, additionally comprising: invalidator cardswhereby a said player designated as a recipient of said crown may negatesuch by a presentation of said invalidator card.